Self Hell

Last updated

Self Hell
WhileSheSleepsSelfHell.jpg
Studio album by
Released29 March 2024 (2024-03-29)
RecordedFebruary–August 2023
Genre Metalcore
Length44:55
Label
Producer
  • Sean Long
  • Carl Bown
While She Sleeps chronology
Sleeps Society
(2021)
Self Hell
(2024)
Singles from Self Hell
  1. "Self Hell"
    Released: 13 September 2023
  2. "Down"
    Released: 7 December 2023
  3. "To the Flowers"
    Released: 15 February 2024
  4. "Leave Me Alone"
    Released: 21 March 2024
  5. "Rainbows"
    Released: 15 October 2024

Self Hell is the sixth studio album by British metalcore band While She Sleeps. It was released on 29 March 2024, through the band's independent label Sleeps Brothers, in collaboration with Spinefarm Records. Like their previous album Sleeps Society (2021), it was produced by Carl Bown and Sean Long, the band's lead guitarist. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Background and promotion

On 13 September 2023, the band released the first single and title track "Self Hell" along with an accompanying music video. That same day, the band announced the album itself and a tentative release date of 15 March. [4] On 7 December, the band unveiled the second single "Down" featuring Alex Taylor of Malevolence. [5]

On 14 February 2024, the band premiered the third single "To the Flowers" and its corresponding music video. [6] On 21 March, one week before the album release, the band released the fourth single "Leave Me Alone". [7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash 8/10 [8]
Distorted Sound9/10 [9]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Kerrang! Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Metal Hammer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Wall of Sound8/10 [13]

Self Hell received generally positive reviews from critics. Clash 's Luke Winstanley was positive towards the release stating, "Yet, much like the narrative arc that inspired the record, they've emerged on the other side, still breathing, utilising their pain and each member's very own personal hell to assemble the most confident effort of their career thus far." [8] Distorted Sound scored the album 9 out of 10 and said: "Overall, While She Sleeps have created their magnum-opus. Self Hell is the band at their very best. [...] This is an album that will go on to define While She Sleeps in years to come." [9] Dave Simpson at The Guardian was positive towards the release stating, "Self Hell doesn't always successfully navigate the difficult terrain between pleasing a hardcore following and broadening a sound, but the band certainly aren't standing still." [10]

Rishi Shah of Kerrang! considered the release to be "Staying true to their creative principles, Self Hell marks a band in the form of their lives." [11] Writing for Metal Hammer , Sam Coare calls the album "...a record and statement of our unstable, head-spinning times. It's a levelling up of the Sleeps blueprint, and a work that will undoubtedly see them make similar strides in the live arena, where the album's scope of ambition will surely come further to life." [12] Wall of Sound gave the album a score 8/10 and saying: "Overall, this album is a solid release. If you enjoy metalcore and enjoy While She Sleeps, then you will appreciate what has gone into its construction." [13]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by While She Sleeps; all music is composed by While She Sleeps

Self Hell track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Peace of Mind"1:20
2."Leave Me Alone"3:35
3."Rainbows"4:22
4."Self Hell"4:39
5."Wildfire"3:05
6."No Feeling Is Final" (featuring Aether)3:13
7."Dopesick" (featuring Fin Power of Stone)4:28
8."Down" (featuring Alex Taylor of Malevolence)3:54
9."To the Flowers"5:03
10."Out of the Blue"3:00
11."Enemy Mentality"4:13
12."Radical Hatred / Radical Love"4:03
Total length:44:55

Personnel

While She Sleeps

Additional musicians

Additional personnel

Charts

Chart performance for Self Hell
Chart (2024)Peak
position
Australian Digital Albums (ARIA) [15] 22
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [16] 40
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [17] 27
Scottish Albums (OCC) [18] 67
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [19] 49
UK Albums (OCC) [20] 51
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [21] 2

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asking Alexandria</span> English rock band

Asking Alexandria are an English rock band formed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and now based in York, North Yorkshire, consisting of guitarist Cameron Liddell, drummer James Cassells, vocalist Danny Worsnop, and bassist Sam Bettley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bury Tomorrow</span> British metalcore band

Bury Tomorrow are a British metalcore band formed in 2006 in Southampton, Hampshire, England. The band is composed of six members; lead vocalist Daniel Winter-Bates, bassist Davyd Winter-Bates, drummer Adam Jackson, lead guitarist Kristan Dawson, who replaced founding guitarist Mehdi Vismara in 2013, rhythm guitarist Ed Hartwell, and keyboardist and vocalist Tom Prendergast, who both replaced Jason Cameron in 2021. Bury Tomorrow have released seven studio albums, their most recent being The Seventh Sun, released on 31 March 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">While She Sleeps</span> English metalcore band

While She Sleeps are a British metalcore band from Sheffield. Formed in 2006, the group consists of vocalist Lawrence Taylor, guitarists Sean Long and Mat Welsh, bassist Aaran McKenzie and drummer Adam Savage. They are currently signed to their own label Sleeps Brothers in the UK and in collaboration with Spinefarm Records in the US and UNFD in Australia. They have released three EPs, And This Is Just the Start, Split and The North Stands for Nothing, and six studio albums, This Is the Six, Brainwashed, You Are We, So What?, Sleeps Society and Self Hell. They received the Best British Newcomer award at the Kerrang! Awards 2012. The group has maintained the same line-up since its formation, with vocalist Taylor being the only bandmate who is not an original member. Despite this, he has still appeared on every release apart from the group's first two EPs.

<i>This Is the Six</i> 2012 studio album by While She Sleeps

This Is the Six is the debut studio album by British metalcore band While She Sleeps. It was released on 13 August 2012 through Search and Destroy Records. The album was produced by Carl Bown. Intending to create a more refined product over their successful EP, The North Stands for Nothing (2010), the band began preparing the album in late 2010 to early 2011, with recording beginning on 1 November 2011 and concluding in February 2012. "Dead Behind the Eyes" debuted on 3 April 2012 on BBC Radio 1, and a music video was released later that day; the title track "This Is the Six" was teased two weeks later, and was released as the first official single from the album on 13 May 2012. Controversy followed the next day for its debut on a late-morning broadcast of Radio 1 with Fearne Cotton. "Dead Behind the Eyes" became the second official single on 29 June, followed by "Seven Hills", which had debuted on Radio 1 on 25 June and was released as a single on 6 July.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beartooth (band)</span> American rock band

Beartooth is an American rock band founded by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Caleb Shomo in Columbus, Ohio, in 2012. Originally Shomo performed every instrument when in the studio, before being joined by a four-piece band. Beartooth has been signed to Red Bull Records since 2013; its debut EP Sick was released on July 26, 2013, followed by the debut full-length album Disgusting on June 10, 2014. Since then, Shomo has released a further three studio albums under the Beartooth moniker: Aggressive (2016), Disease (2018), and Below (2021). The band's fifth studio album, The Surface, was released on October 13, 2023.

<i>So What?</i> (While She Sleeps album) 2019 studio album by While She Sleeps

So What? is the fourth studio album by British metalcore band While She Sleeps. It was released on 1 March 2019, through the band's independent label Sleeps Brothers, in collaboration with Search and Destroy, Spinefarm Records, UNFD, and Universal Music. The album was produced by the band themselves and Carl Bown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fakers Plague</span> 2019 single by While She Sleeps

"Fakers Plague" is a song by British metalcore band While She Sleeps. Produced by Carl Bown, the track was released as a standalone single on 6 December 2019, nine months after the release of the band's fourth studio album, So What?. The song is later included in the deluxe edition of the band's fifth studio album Sleeps Society, released on 3 June 2022. As lead guitarist Sean Long explained, the band had a lot of anger building up within them, and they thought it was amazing to come together and express the song through music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sleep Token</span> British rock band

Sleep Token are a British metal band from London, formed in 2016. The group are an anonymous, masked collective led by a frontman using the moniker Vessel. They have been categorised under many different genres, including alternative metal, post-rock/metal, progressive metal, indie rock/pop, and djent. After self-releasing their debut extended play (EP) One in 2016, the band signed with Basick Records and issued a follow-up, Two, the next year. The group later signed with Spinefarm Records and released their debut full-length album Sundowning in 2019, which was followed in 2021 by This Place Will Become Your Tomb. A third album, Take Me Back to Eden, was released in May 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malevolence (band)</span> British hardcore band

Malevolence are an English metalcore band formed in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, in 2010. They have released three studio albums and one EP and established their own record label called MLVLTD Music.

<i>The Path</i> (Fit for a King album) 2020 studio album by Fit for a King

The Path is the sixth studio album by American metalcore band Fit for a King. It was released on September 18, 2020, through Solid State Records and was produced by Drew Fulk. It is the band's first release with guitarist Daniel Gailey. It is also the last album to feature the band's founding drummer Jared Easterling before he left the band in December 2021.

<i>Sleeps Society</i> 2021 studio album by While She Sleeps

Sleeps Society is the fifth studio album by British metalcore band While She Sleeps. It was released on 16 April 2021, through the band's independent label Sleeps Brothers, in collaboration with Search and Destroy, Spinefarm Records, and Universal Music. The album was produced by Carl Bown and Sean Long, the band's lead guitarist.

<i>Bullet for My Valentine</i> (album) 2021 studio album by Bullet for My Valentine

Bullet for My Valentine is the seventh studio album by Welsh heavy metal band Bullet for My Valentine. It was released on 5 November 2021 through Spinefarm Records and was produced by Carl Bown.

<i>Manic</i> (Wage War album) 2021 studio album by Wage War

Manic is the fourth studio album by American metalcore band Wage War. The album was released on October 1, 2021, through Fearless Records. It was produced by Drew Fulk, Andrew Wade, Jeremy McKinnon and Cody Quistad.

<i>Scoring the End of the World</i> 2022 studio album by Motionless in White

Scoring the End of the World is the sixth studio album by American metalcore band Motionless in White. It was released on June 10, 2022, through Roadrunner Records. The album was produced by Drew Fulk and Justin DeBlieck. It is the band's first album to feature drummer Vinny Mauro and bassist Justin Morrow performing on the release.

<i>The Seventh Sun</i> 2023 studio album by Bury Tomorrow

The Seventh Sun is the seventh studio album by British metalcore band Bury Tomorrow. The album was released on 31 March 2023 through Music for Nations and it was produced by Dan Weller. It is the first album to feature the band's new rhythm guitarist Ed Hartwell and keyboardist/clean vocalist Tom Prendergast.

<i>The Hell We Create</i> 2022 studio album by Fit for a King

The Hell We Create is the seventh studio album by American metalcore band Fit for a King. It was released on October 28, 2022, through Solid State Records and was produced by Drew Fulk. It is the band's first release with drummer Trey Celaya.

<i>Not Without My Ghosts</i> 2023 studio album by The Amity Affliction

Not Without My Ghosts is the eighth studio album by Australian post-hardcore band The Amity Affliction. The album was released on 12 May 2023 through Pure Noise Records and was self-produced by the band.

<i>The Surface</i> (album) 2023 studio album by Beartooth

The Surface is the fifth studio album by American rock band Beartooth. The album was released on October 13, 2023, through Red Bull Records and was produced by Caleb Shomo. A deluxe edition of The Surface was released on September 20, 2024, with an additional 7 tracks.

<i>Stigma</i> (Wage War album) 2024 studio album by Wage War

Stigma is the fifth studio album by American metalcore band Wage War. The album was released on June 21, 2024, through Fearless Records and was produced by Drew Fulk.

<i>The Black</i> (Imminence album) 2024 studio album by Imminence

The Black is the fifth studio album by Swedish metalcore band Imminence. The album was self-released by the band on 12 April 2024. It was produced by Eddie Berg, Harald Barret and Henrik Udd.

References

  1. "While She Sleeps, 'Self Hell' - The Album Story". Rock Sound. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  2. "Interview: Sean Long of While She Sleeps Talks Self Hell". New Noise. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  3. "While She Sleeps announce new album Self Hell, unleash title-track". Kerrang!. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  4. "While She Sleeps Premiere Video For The Title Track to New Album Self Hell". ThePRP. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  5. "While She Sleeps Recruit Malevolence's Alex Taylor For Upcoming New Track "Down"". ThePRP. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  6. "Watch the emotional video for While She Sleeps' new single, To the Flowers". Kerrang!. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  7. "While She Sleeps Stream New Single "Leave Me Alone"". ThePRP. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  8. 1 2 Luke Winstanley (26 March 2024). "While She Sleeps – Self Hell". Clash . Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  9. 1 2 Bird, Katie (26 March 2024). "Album Review: Self Hell – While She Sleeps". Distorted Sound. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  10. 1 2 Dave Simpson (29 March 2024). "While She Sleeps: Self Hell review – exploding out of metalcore with a scream". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  11. 1 2 Shah, Rishi (25 March 2024). "Album review: While She Sleeps – Self Hell". Kerrang! . Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  12. 1 2 Coare, Sam (25 March 2024). ""Self Hell delivers as a record and statement of our unstable, head-spinning times." While She Sleeps' latest album doesn't always hit the mark, but it's a bold levelling-up of their blueprint all the same". Louder Sound . Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  13. 1 2 Hamilton, Kayla (26 March 2024). "While She Sleeps – Self Hell (Album Review)". Wall of Sound. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  14. "Honoured to get a chance to work with @whileshesleeps on their latest record". Instagram. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  15. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 8 April 2024". The ARIA Report. No. 1779. Australian Recording Industry Association. 8 April 2024. p. 10.
  16. "Austriancharts.at – While She Sleeps – Self Hell" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  17. "Offiziellecharts.de – While She Sleeps – Self Hell" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  18. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  19. "Swisscharts.com – While She Sleeps – Self Hell". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  20. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  21. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 April 2024.